Posts by California Sunshine

36

Hi - I'm New!

by Aunty in

jw
friends

just wanted to say hello - i've been lurking here for about a month and decided to join.

i was raised a witness, but have been out for almost 10 years.

i just faded out - it was easy since i moved to california from ohio.

Hi Aunty,
I was born and raised (A JDub naturally)in Orange Co. HB to pin point the exact place. I now live about 2 hours away in Riverside Co close to Palm Springs. Gave up the JWs years ago.
Welcome to the board and I look forward to your posts.
Sunny

52

Raymond Franz's Betrayal

by IslandWoman in

jw
friends

thanks for calling this to my attention.

my reason for not wanting book material to be run on certain web sites is purely because of finding their approach out of harmony with my own principles and standards, so many are engaged in watch tower trashing and extremely negative.

some sites present material that promotes agnosticism and distrust of the scriptures, even atheism (one such site being in scandanavia).

California Sunshine

I've never thought of myself as the brightest bulb in the box and I can only write what my own personal observations are after reading Ray's book "Crisis of Conscience".

I've been out of the borg for years but there have always been some things that have haunted me during that time.
After reading Amazings story of his and his familys journey out I decided to buy Ray's book.
It was a great eye opener and I could finaly lay to rest the things I wondered about.
To me, in the end the message that Ray's book conveyed,along with exposing how the GB actually runs the organization, is that we all have to decide according to our own conscience what we will believe and support. That is, we have to stand on our own two feet. We all as individuals stand before God and have to rise and fall on our own merits. We have to decide our lifes course on our own. The scriptures are there to guide us along in our journey.
Ray is under no obligation to be our spiritual leader or to comunicate with us in any way. The message I get in his book is that is the last thing he wants. He is a kind and man and I'm sure would answer questions put to him in a respectful way. Look at the way he helped Amazing.

In no way am I trying to make belittle the horrors that have happened to parents who have lost children or any of the hurts that have come from the terrible teachings of the WTS. I myself have lost family and have experienced the terrible hurt of their shunning process. My heart goes out to IW.

Sunny

18

My Parents just bought Crisis of Conscience!!

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

my....how the walls come crumbling down.. my father and mother ordered coc and in search of christian freedom tonite.....when talking about freeminds.org they call randy waters, 'randy'.

i can't believe it.. i haven't even read coc, and isocf!!.

but my parents ordered the books tonite....i think my whole fam is going to be alright.. ashi

California Sunshine

Ashi,

Seems some of your dreams are coming true huh? (don't be pinching yourself, you really are awake)

I just finished reading "Crisis of Conscience" tonight.
Borough it from your folks as soon as they finish it. Its like the final leap to freedom.
I'd been wanting to read it for along time and reading Amazings story of his journey out finally was the push I needed to get me to order it (thanks Amazing).
I have 3 people waiting in line to read this book. Even one of the guys at work wants to read it. I want my Jr Apostate Pin now!

My very best to both your Mom and Dad

Sunny

24

My dad is visiting this site

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

...so please, end the fights.. (i wanted it to be a couplet).

my dad is looking at a whole bunch of sites, freeminds, silentlambs, etc, and i pointed him in this direction.

no more fights....daddy wants info.

California Sunshine

Ashi,
Now I know where you get your courage from.
All the best to your Dad on his journey.
Welcome Ashi's Dad!
Sunny

37

For those who've left - any regrets?

by starfish422 in

jw
friends

i left almost nine years ago at age 18; my only real regret was that i was good friends with a young brother and i never said goodbye to him, or even let him know that i was planning to leave (had to leave my parents' home secretly while they were at the meeting one sunday; they had such a hold over me that i could never have stood up to them and told them beforehand).

.

i have no other regrets about leaving; i'm am now happily agnostic and so thankful that i found the strength to break free.. anyone have any similar regrets?

California Sunshine

************************ my parents, two brothers and their wives and kids, and my younger sister have all disowned me; it's been so long now though that I have nothing in common with them any more. It's like they passed away or something.********************************

Hi Star,
I never liked it, even as a five year old (thats when my Mom opened the door to them) I knew in my little gut there was something wrong with it. My Mom instilled such fear in me (mostly about Armageddon)
as a kid that I didn't leave for years.
I became inactive about 30 years ago. Then 20 years ago the hammer came down. When the article in the Sept 15 1981 came out my witness siblings (2 out of 4) decided they would drop me like a hot potatoe.
It was tough but I have no regrets. The last 20 years have been the happiest years of my life. Aside from a little haunting from the "End of the World" mentality which I have dispelled by finally reading "crisis of conscience". That book was the final nail in the door.
Now guess what....after all these years my JW side has been in touch through email. My JW brother started a family picture project and sent me a letter asking for family pictures which I provided to him right away. Now my JW sister has been in touch and we are going to have lunch in a couple of weeks. I've explained to her that I have no interest in being a witness and she still wants to go ahead. So star, you never know what might happen.....I don't want to raise false hopes but you never know, perhaps someday there will be a knock at the door (or an email).
Glad you started this thread.
Sunny

21

? about the Lords's Prayer and JWs

by rekless in

jw
friends

i was in the org.

for 35 years, and it never once occurred to me why we never taught our children the lord's pray.. our father who art in heaven hollow be thy name..... anybody have any reason for our ignoring the most perfect prayer offered up by god's son.. my fiance' ask me this tonight i can't explain it except that it would have turned into a repetitive expression like all our prayers were anyway... hell is truth seen too late.

h.g.adams

California Sunshine

*****I an serious about getting an intelligent answer. That is all.**

I don't have an answer for you. Perhaps someone with more knowledge will pick up on your thread.

Have a nice evening

21

? about the Lords's Prayer and JWs

by rekless in

jw
friends

i was in the org.

for 35 years, and it never once occurred to me why we never taught our children the lord's pray.. our father who art in heaven hollow be thy name..... anybody have any reason for our ignoring the most perfect prayer offered up by god's son.. my fiance' ask me this tonight i can't explain it except that it would have turned into a repetitive expression like all our prayers were anyway... hell is truth seen too late.

h.g.adams

California Sunshine

Rec
nothin intended. no need for forgiveness.
I find the whole Jw "mind control, live in fear" religion to be "hollow".
After reading Amazings story of his journey out I decided to get Ray Franz's book "Crisis of Conscience". I'm about 2/3s through. I'm now in the part about the witch hunts of the early 80s and what happened to a lot of innocent people including Ray Franz. I can only read a few pages at a time because I just want to cry. Have you read this book and how did it make you feel?
The Lords prayer is truly beautiful and moving.
Why would't anyone not want their child to know and appreciate it?

Sunny

21

? about the Lords's Prayer and JWs

by rekless in

jw
friends

i was in the org.

for 35 years, and it never once occurred to me why we never taught our children the lord's pray.. our father who art in heaven hollow be thy name..... anybody have any reason for our ignoring the most perfect prayer offered up by god's son.. my fiance' ask me this tonight i can't explain it except that it would have turned into a repetitive expression like all our prayers were anyway... hell is truth seen too late.

h.g.adams